Thomas County cat. [volume] (Colby, Kan.) 1885-1891, 1887-12-15
CARELESS LUCY.

anu L suppose you never SAW d ItllC
girl who could skip a rope or run a
race any faster than she could, or one
who could learn her lessons any better
when she tried. There was the
trouble with Lucy; she did not always
try. She had sad habit of thinking
of something else' at exactly the
wrong time.
1t was so in church. She meant to
listen to the sermon. but her mind was
apt to stray away; and if any of the
family asked her afterward for the text.
it was strange medley they hea rd
from little Lucy. For example, DIR.
Palmer preached one morning from
the words: But whose shall offend
one of these little ones which believe
i'm Me. it were better for him that a
milestone were hanged about his neck.
and that he were drowned in the
depth of the sea-"
did you listen to the sermon this
morning?" asked Jack. after dinner.
''Of course did,
do you know the text?"
vi Coul DC W. atuSWcIcu Lucy,
feeling unusually we'll prepared.
You must put milestone round your
neck. and jump into the water"
Jack laughed very loud.
.'Well. if you don't hear with your
elbows! What is the sense in such a
text as that?"
II don't know; 1 thought it was
funny, and l didn't like the sermon
much; but that was almost just the
very thing he said." persisted Lucy,
ready to cry HE said that was what
you must do if you wanted to be
good"
One day Mrs. Lockwood. who was
not well. dispatched little Lucy to a
shoe store to ask the merchant if he
would kindly send her a pair Of boots
10 try on. 'Common-sense boots. num-
Der four. Do you think you can re-
member. dear?"
Yes. indeed. Lucy was sure she could
remember common sense" and so.
indeed. she did; the word she forgot
was boots" When she reached the
store she looked up in the merchants
face and asked, in her quick way:
Have you any common sense. sir?"
which was certainly strange query
from pleasant, polite little girl to a
man iive times her own age, let her
think what she might of his brains;
and it was hardly strange that Mr..
Mead laughed. although Lucy thought
livery unkind.
She fastened then to add "boots,'
but by that time she had forgotten the
number She thought it was eight, but
Mr.. Neal advised her to run home
and inquire.
Her aunt sent her once for brush
of camers hair to paint with; and
when Lucy reached the art store she
called brcathlessly for 'hair- brush"
adding. rs an after-thought: "A
cdmens hair-brush. mean"
Why was it that the clerk looked so
amused? And wasn't it very rude of
him to asked: Does your father
keep wild animals. little miss?''
But she made mistake once at
which nobody laughed-a mistake
which came near proving very serious
indeed. One autumn evening when
her play-fellow. brother Jack. was
gone. and she was feeling rather lone
some. it suddenly occurred to her
that she wanted an apple. aud must
have one that very minute.
Very WELL" said her mother,
There are plenty in the pantry"
oh. but mamma, it is a golden
pippin l want! one of those golden
pippins that you told Tom to put in
the pink chamber closet"
Mrs. LOCKWOOD looked up from her
sewing in some surprise. How hap
pened Lucy to know about the gold en-
pippins?
May have one, mammaP'
Yes. if you can wait for me to 60
up stairs; but I am very busy just
now.'
Cant you trust me to 60 nv own
self. mamma? Not with a lamp.
you know. but Jane will light me a
candle"
''Will you be very sure not to carry
the candle into the closet?'
Oh. no. indeed! Oh, yes. indeed!
Imean; and I'll be-oh. so carefulr'
We'll. if You will remember to set
the candle down by the chamber door.
think there will be no danger"
'Yes'm, I WILL" said Lucy, and
danced away joyfully. She held the
candle aloft, and peered rather eau
tiously about the pink chamber.
Nothing to be afraid of here! Nam.
ma talks to me about lamps and
things just as if l was a baby, but
guess she'll find out know as much
as Jack! can take care.' of course
can! mind all she says, l mind